Universal Credit closure childcare query. 1 September 2022 at 11:27AM in Benefits & tax credits 16 replies 499 views

NedS

Tommy_77723 said:

NedS said:

Tommy_77723 said:

Tommy_77723 said:

NedS said:

Your claim should not close for large one-off earnings for one month. In the assessment period in which those higher earning are received, you will receive a NIL award (assuming earnings are sufficient to NIL the award, even with the childcare element) but the claim will stay open.

If for any reason they do close the claim, you can immediately reopen it online by making a Rapid Reclaim - when you log into your account you will see the link to follow to "reclaim" which simply reopens the closed claim (assuming there have been no changes in circumstance)

Hope that helps!

Thank you

And in the 'reclaim' instance - I would be able to add childcare costs that had taken place that following month and have that element on my statement as normal etc?

Our income means that we NEED the childcare element for the claim to be open. Without this it would close each month.

Would this be correct?

I'm not sure, so I will try to remember to check with our childcare expert tomorrow for you. But I am fairly sure that scenario shouldn't happen as the claim should not close. If you are concerned, what you could do is speak with your advisor now and ask tell them that you are expecting larger one-off earnings, and ask them to put a note on the claim not to close it, which would prevent anyone accidentally closing it thinking those earnings were normal.

Good morning - Did you get a chance to ask your friend?

Hi - Just got in from work

My colleague advises that the claim should not be closed so hopefully we are worrying over nothing (as we agreed above).

If the claim were to be closed, as long as you reopen it in the same Assessment Period (AP), then there will be no breaks in the claim and childcare costs can be submitted and considered as normal.

If there has been a break in the claim, where the claim has been closed and you have reopened it AFTER the end of the AP, no childcare costs can be considered for the AP in which there was no entitlement due to the claim being closed.

Hope that helps clarify the situation.

Tommy_77723

NedS said:

Tommy_77723 said:

NedS said:

Tommy_77723 said:

Tommy_77723 said:

NedS said:

Your claim should not close for large one-off earnings for one month. In the assessment period in which those higher earning are received, you will receive a NIL award (assuming earnings are sufficient to NIL the award, even with the childcare element) but the claim will stay open.

If for any reason they do close the claim, you can immediately reopen it online by making a Rapid Reclaim - when you log into your account you will see the link to follow to "reclaim" which simply reopens the closed claim (assuming there have been no changes in circumstance)

Hope that helps!

Thank you

And in the 'reclaim' instance - I would be able to add childcare costs that had taken place that following month and have that element on my statement as normal etc?

Our income means that we NEED the childcare element for the claim to be open. Without this it would close each month.

Would this be correct?

I'm not sure, so I will try to remember to check with our childcare expert tomorrow for you. But I am fairly sure that scenario shouldn't happen as the claim should not close. If you are concerned, what you could do is speak with your advisor now and ask tell them that you are expecting larger one-off earnings, and ask them to put a note on the claim not to close it, which would prevent anyone accidentally closing it thinking those earnings were normal.

Good morning - Did you get a chance to ask your friend?

Hi - Just got in from work

My colleague advises that the claim should not be closed so hopefully we are worrying over nothing (as we agreed above).

If the claim were to be closed, as long as you reopen it in the same Assessment Period (AP), then there will be no breaks in the claim and childcare costs can be submitted and considered as normal.

If there has been a break in the claim, where the claim has been closed and you have reopened it AFTER the end of the AP, no childcare costs can be considered for the AP in which there was no entitlement due to the claim being closed.

Hope that helps clarify the situation.

Thank you.

I've read:

You can reclaim Universal Credit within six assessment periods of your claim closing without having to make a full claim. However, if you have had a change of circumstances, where a new partner joins your household, you will be required to declare this and verify your information.

If you qualify for a reclaim when you return to Universal Credit, you will:

• have to actively make a reclaim through your existing Universal Credit online account

So if I 'reclaimed' immediately after a 'nil' award, I would be able to add childcare costs to then be considered for the following month etc?

Tommy_77723

NedS said:

Tommy_77723 said:

NedS said:

Tommy_77723 said:

Tommy_77723 said:

NedS said:

Your claim should not close for large one-off earnings for one month. In the assessment period in which those higher earning are received, you will receive a NIL award (assuming earnings are sufficient to NIL the award, even with the childcare element) but the claim will stay open.

If for any reason they do close the claim, you can immediately reopen it online by making a Rapid Reclaim - when you log into your account you will see the link to follow to "reclaim" which simply reopens the closed claim (assuming there have been no changes in circumstance)

Hope that helps!

Thank you

And in the 'reclaim' instance - I would be able to add childcare costs that had taken place that following month and have that element on my statement as normal etc?

Our income means that we NEED the childcare element for the claim to be open. Without this it would close each month.

Would this be correct?

I'm not sure, so I will try to remember to check with our childcare expert tomorrow for you. But I am fairly sure that scenario shouldn't happen as the claim should not close. If you are concerned, what you could do is speak with your advisor now and ask tell them that you are expecting larger one-off earnings, and ask them to put a note on the claim not to close it, which would prevent anyone accidentally closing it thinking those earnings were normal.

Good morning - Did you get a chance to ask your friend?

Hi - Just got in from work

My colleague advises that the claim should not be closed so hopefully we are worrying over nothing (as we agreed above).

If the claim were to be closed, as long as you reopen it in the same Assessment Period (AP), then there will be no breaks in the claim and childcare costs can be submitted and considered as normal.

If there has been a break in the claim, where the claim has been closed and you have reopened it AFTER the end of the AP, no childcare costs can be considered for the AP in which there was no entitlement due to the claim being closed.

Hope that helps clarify the situation.

Just thinking... if we got a nil award for a particular month, how could I reopen the claim in the same AP if that has already been completed, as such?

calcotti

Tommy_77723 said:

Just thinking... if we got a nil award for a particular month, how could I reopen the claim in the same AP if that has already been completed, as such?

As soon as a claim is closed your journal will have a ‘rapid reclaim’ option. You will not be claiming for the same AP of the nil entitlement, you will be claiming for the childcare costs for previous childcare costs not previously submitted to UC.

Tommy_77723

calcotti said:

Tommy_77723 said:

Just thinking... if we got a nil award for a particular month, how could I reopen the claim in the same AP if that has already been completed, as such?

As soon as a claim is closed your journal will have a ‘rapid reclaim’ option. You will not be claiming for the same AP of the nil entitlement, you will be claiming for the childcare costs for previous childcare costs not previously submitted to UC.

And if I use the rapid reclaim option I will have the option to continue adding childcare costs for the following month?

calcotti

Yes, it’s part of having a UC claim.